Central Asia's Water Security Highlighted in AIF 2025, Emphasizes Reform and Regional Cooperation
(Central Asia) Wrestles with Water Scarcity as Climate Change Intensifies
ASTANA — As the effects of climate change accelerate and water resources dwindle, Central Asia faces a pressing challenge to ensure sustainable development. A high-level panel discussion on water security at the Astana International Forum (AIF) underscored the critical role water plays in the region's future.
Photo credit: AIF
Kanat Bozumbayev, Kazakhstan's Deputy Prime Minister, emphasized the nation's efforts to reform its water management system under President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev's leadership. The government aims to establish the Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation to better address the water crisis.
Transforming Kazakhstan's Water Management
Kanat Bozumbayev. Photo credit: AIF
Kazakhstan's water reform agenda encompasses infrastructure modernization, with the ongoing construction of 42 reservoirs and 30 reconstructions. Over 14,000 kilometers of irrigation canals are being upgraded to expand irrigated land and minimize water-related emergencies. Efficiency improvements are also paramount, as the government promotes the adoption of water-saving technologies among farmers by increasing subsidies for irrigation systems and sprinkler equipment to 80%.
Digitalization plays a crucial role in Kazakhstan's water management strategy. The launch of a new platform, hydro.gov.kz, centralizes data on water bodies and infrastructure, including the digitization of over 3,500 kilometers of canals and the automation of irrigation water measurement. Legal reforms, such as the adoption of a new Water Code, focus on environmental sustainability, climate adaptation, public engagement, and the integrated use of water resources.
Kazakhstan is also strengthening international partnerships by collaborating with neighboring countries on the management of transboundary rivers.
"Kazakhstan views water not just as a natural resource but also as a powerful driver of cooperation, sustainable development, and regional stability," Bozumbayev stated.
Emphasizing Sustainable and Digital Solutions for Water Security
Qu Dongyu, Director General of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), highlighted the importance of climate-resilient irrigation and regional cooperation to ensure sustainable water use. "Water is food. Water is life, it is energy, dignity, and opportunity. But water is not a gift from God. We should make water valuable - pricing it and using it efficiently and effectively," he said.
Mohamed Manssouri, director of the FAO Investment Center, stressed the interconnectedness of water, energy, and food systems in Central Asia. Agriculture, which accounts for up to 25% of employment, heavily relies on water, with 90% of freshwater withdrawals allocated to this sector.
The FAO and various financial institutions are committed to supporting water efficiency, resilience, and economic growth initiatives in the region, aiming to secure water, energy, and food for future generations.
"Future investments must avoid repeating past mistakes. They must result in less water use overall through efficiency gains. We need smarter water infrastructure. The critical message here is that sustainability, not just production, must be the yardstick for success in water investments," he said.
Praising regional cooperation, Manssouri recognized the trilateral agreement among Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, and Uzbekistan on the construction of the Kambar-Ata-1 hydroelectric power plant as a model for such partnerships.
"This shows that shared benefits outweigh individual fears. We need more of these forward-looking partnerships," he noted.
He underscored the importance of digitalization and better data in water management.
"Digital, data-driven water governance is transforming water management. It means more crops per drop and more value per crop," he noted.
Manssouri concluded with a call to action.
"Water scarcity in Central Asia is a formidable challenge, but it is one that can be solved - provided the countries in the region make the right investments and policy choices. Investing in water means investing in food security, economic growth, stability, and peace," he said.
Addressing Financing Challenges in Central Asia's Water Management
Unlike other speakers who focused on environmental and policy frameworks, Hüseyin Özhan, managing director for Central Asia and Mongolia at the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, highlighted the need to address financing structures and the economic realities of water management in the region.
He warned that many countries in Central Asia remain heavily reliant on grant financing, which is becoming increasingly rare due to global financial pressures. To advance, he emphasized the necessity for projects to become more bankable, through cost-recovery tariff systems, public-private partnerships, and increased private sector engagement.
These efforts will be crucial in addressing Central Asia's water security challenges and ensuring sustainable development for future generations.
- Kazakhstan's water reform initiatives extend to the adoption of water-saving technologies among farmers, with subsidies for irrigation systems and sprinkler equipment increased to 80%, aiming for sustainable water use in the agricultural sector.
- Qu Dongyu, Director General of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), advocated for climate-resilient irrigation and regional cooperation in Central Asia, emphasizing that water is not only a natural resource, but also a key driver for cooperation, sustainable development, and regional stability.
- Addressing financing challenges in Central Asia's water management, Hüseyin Özhan, managing director for Central Asia and Mongolia at the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, suggested that projects should become more bankable through cost-recovery tariff systems, public-private partnerships, and increased private sector engagement, to ensure water security and sustainable development in the region.
